Memory Of Student Touches Classmates

Memory Of Student Touches Classmates

The rush of carols, Christmas raffles and holiday plans took a painful pause for many at East Hartford High School Tuesday as students and teachers mourned the drowning of a gentle, free-spirited senior.

David Michael Saucier, 17, had died early Monday evening after falling 15 feet off a secluded dock into the Connecticut River in Glastonbury. The exact circumstances of the accident remained a mystery Tuesday.

As police investigated Mr. Saucier's death, school staff and his friends remembered him as a nonconformist who had a wide circle of friends.

"Dave was everybody's brother," said Kari Rockwell, a senior at East Hartford High School.

Rockwell, wearing a pair of Mr. Saucier's baggy, striped overalls, spoke about Mr. Saucier along with Tom Boccaccio, another senior and close friend.

"Dave was beautiful. He was absolutely beautiful," Boccaccio said. "Always spread his love. I feel his energy absolutely, even now."

Mr. Saucier played electric and acoustic guitar, and listened to the '60s and '70s music of the Beatles, the Grateful Dead, Crosby Stills & Nash and Max Creek, as well as classical music. He was also a member of the school's jazz band.

"He was talking about continuing further studies in music," said his guidance counselor, Kathy Staten.

He was also talking about moving to the wilderness in Maine or traveling with the Grateful Dead, Boccaccio and Rockwell said. "He was very much into philosophy," Boccaccio said.

He said Mr. Saucier had no pets, but loved to play with dogs. Mr. Saucier also had a passion for nature, several people said -- especially water, and swimming. He was an avid swimmer.

Glastonbury Police Chief James M. Thomas said he delayed announcing Mr. Saucier's name until Tuesday to shield the family from the glare of the news media. Late Monday, he had given a different reason for withholding the name.

"His mother was so distraught," Thomas said, even after a priest had tried to comfort her Monday night.

For students and staff, the day was either Christmasasusual or reflection and counseling, depending on how well one knew David Saucier.

"Some people just went around singing Christmas carols," said HeatherMarie Natale, a sophomore. "You could tell who knew him. We kind of smiled at each other."

Natale wrote a poem to Mr. Saucier, which began: Though I didn't know you very well, you always had a kind word for me, a friendy smile, that always brightened my day, or a wave from across a crowded hall. At sunset Monday, Mr. Saucier had been with two friends on the end of a dock off Phelps Street in Glastonbury, operated by Ultramar Petroleum Inc.

Tuesday Furlong interviewed the two friends -- Thomas Benedict of East Hartford and Erica Jefferies of Glastonbury.

Like they had done in the past, the three friends had walked under a "no trespassing" sign off Phelps Street to reach the dock, a threelevel wooden structure tucked away from the street by trees. The dock was once a thriving spot for barges delivering oil to distribution companies, but has been less active in recent years.

Sitting on the middle level, about 15 feet above the water, "The three of them were just hanging," Furlong said.

Then Mr. Saucier fell backwards "for whatever reason," Furlong said.

The river temperature was probably colder that the 36-degree reading police took Tuesday, Furlong said.

Benedict, 17, jumped in immediately, but was unable to locate Mr. Saucier in the deep, murky water.

Neither Benedict nor Jefferies, 17, could be reached for comment Tuesday. Furlong said the case is still under investigation.

The Chief Medical Examiner's office found that Mr. Saucier died of asphyxia, and called the drowning accidental, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Glastonbury High School, where Mr. Saucier had close friends, also provided counseling Tuesday.

In East Hartford, Boccaccio wore a colored bead necklace borrowed from Mr. Saucier, and a T-shirt Mr. Saucier had made for him last June. On the front of the shirt, an expressionist ink drawing includes several icons of 20thcentury painting. Boccaccio said thinking about the art, and about Mr. Saucier, moved him through his birthday.

"I've learned so much within the last day," Boccaccio said.

David Saucier leaves his parents, Wilfred and Patricia (Kusma) Saucier of East Hartford; a younger sister, Kimberly; his maternal grandparents; his paternal grandmother; and aunts, uncles and cousins.

Funeral services will be Thursday, 8:15 a.m. at the Callahan Funeral Home, 1602 Main St., East Hartford, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 9 a.m. at St. Christopher Church on Brewer Street Extension. Calling hours are today from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m